The Indiana Fever begin a daunting stretch of five games in nine days with a matchup against the Dallas Wings on Friday, a contest that features two No. 1 overall draft picks in Aliyah Boston (2023) and Paige Bueckers (2025).
Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 WNBA Draft, however, won’t be available.
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The Fever All-Star guard has been ruled out of Friday’s matchup against the Wings with a right groin injury that has kept her sidelined for six consecutive games. Clark suffered the injury in the final minute of the Fever’s win over Connecticut on July 15, another setback in Clark’s injury-riddled sophomore season.
Clark had never missed a collegiate or professional game entering the 2025 WNBA season, but she’s missed 14 of the Fever’s 27 games this year. Friday will mark her 15th absence from a regular-season game. Indiana has managed to stay in playoff contention without Clark — the team is 8-5 with Clark in the lineup and 7-7 without her on the floor — but the Fever hope Clark’s extended absence will give her enough time to fully recover to ensure she’s ready to go later in the season and in the playoffs. The Fever (15-12) are in sixth place in the WNBA standings.
Here’s everything you need to know about Clark’s injury status:
Is Caitlin Clark playing today? Injury status for Fever-Wings
Clark was ruled out of the Fever’s matchup against the Wings on Friday with a right groin injury. There is no timetable for Clark’s return.
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How many games has Caitlin Clark missed this season?
Friday will be the 15th regular-season game that Clark has missed due to injuries this year. Clark was previously sidelined five games with a left quad injury and four games with a left groin injury. She also missed the Fever’s Commissioner’s Cup win over the Minnesota Lynx on July 1, in addition to the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game and the 3-point competition held in Indianapolis.
Last month, Clark said battling injuries has been “challenging mentally,” despite doing everything “to put myself in a position to be available the rest of the year.”
How was Caitlin Clark injured?
Clark suffered a right groin injury in the final minute of the Fever’s 85-77 victory over the Sun at TD Garden in Boston on July 15. With 39.1 seconds remaining in the contest, Clark completed a bounce pass to Kelsey Mitchell to put the Fever up 84-75. After the pass, Clark immediately grabbed for her right groin and grimaced as she gingerly walked over and headbutted the stanchion. She did not return to the game.
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On July 24, the Fever said Clark’s medical evaluations confirmed there’s “no additional injuries or damage,” but the team said it will be cautious with Clark’s rehab and recovery.
Caitlin Clark stats
Clark is averaging 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and a career-high 8.8 assists in 13 games this season. Her assists average is the second-highest in the league, behind Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas (9.2).
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caitlin Clark injury update: Status for Fever-Wings game today
